Kaduna, Nigeria Health stakeholders in Kaduna State have called for greater collaboration between the media and the health sector to improve accountability, increase public awareness, and encourage greater use of healthcare services across the state.
The appeal was made during a roundtable discussion focused on strengthening media engagement in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, nutrition, primary healthcare performance, and health insurance accountability.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Public Health at the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, Dr. Sadiq Abubakar, stressed the importance of using reliable data to guide health planning and policy decisions. He noted that technical health information must be communicated in simple language to help communities understand available services and make informed healthcare decisions.
According to him, effective public communication plays a key role in promoting immunisation, maternal and child healthcare, nutrition programmes, HIV services, tuberculosis control, and other essential health interventions.
Dr. Abubakar also highlighted ongoing efforts by the state government to improve emergency medical services through the Kaduna State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (KADSEMSAS). He urged journalists and civil society organisations to support campaigns that raise public awareness of emergency healthcare services.
During the meeting, health officials presented updated performance data showing improvements in the state’s primary healthcare system. The Kaduna State Primary Health Care Board reported that the overall performance score of primary healthcare facilities increased from 67.4 percent in September 2025 to 83.7 percent by June 2026 following the introduction of a revised Integrated Supportive Supervision framework.
Officials attributed the improvement to a streamlined monitoring system, automated performance scorecards, and a merit-based supervision approach designed to strengthen efficiency and accountability.
Despite the progress, several challenges remain. Health authorities disclosed that many primary healthcare facilities continue to face infrastructure shortages, unreliable electricity supply, and inadequate medical equipment. They also noted that while facility readiness has improved, patient attendance and service utilisation remain below expectations, highlighting the need for stronger community engagement.
The state’s 2025 Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) performance report showed that Kaduna, with a population of more than 10.6 million and over 1,000 functional primary healthcare centres, emerged as the North-West regional winner of the Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge in both 2024 and 2025.
The report revealed strong performance in postnatal care and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. However, antenatal care attendance, skilled birth delivery, and HIV testing rates were identified as areas requiring further improvement.
Other challenges affecting healthcare delivery include shortages of essential medical commodities, inadequate staffing, poor data quality, delayed funding, and low demand for health services.
On health insurance, the Kaduna State Contributory Health Management Authority announced that more than 882,000 residents had enrolled in the state health insurance programme as of June 2026. However, stakeholders expressed concern over low enrolment among informal sector workers, delays in provider payments, and verification challenges affecting vulnerable groups.
Experts at the dialogue also called for responsible and ethical health reporting. They encouraged journalists to verify health data, protect patient confidentiality, and avoid sensational reporting, noting that accurate media coverage can influence public behaviour, strengthen policy implementation, and improve health outcomes.
At the end of the meeting, participants agreed on several measures to improve accountability, including regular dialogue between health institutions and the media, increased public access to health performance data, stronger community feedback systems, and continuous training for journalists covering health issues.
Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to sustained collaboration aimed at improving maternal and child health, strengthening primary healthcare services, and expanding health insurance coverage across Kaduna State.
